MOScout Daily Update: Senate Pause Coming - Budget Work Continues - Wayfair Debated - Meet FastDemocracy and more...
Senate To Start Spring Break Early
Floor Leader Caleb Rowden tweeted last night: “The Missouri Senate will not be in session next week as we work to ensure the safety of our members and Capitol guests from the ongoing #COVID19 realities…”
What It Means
· Coronavirus dominated the talk in the halls. There was a report of a Mizzou J-School student who attended a conference in New Orleans where someone was Covid-positive. That student then attended a Senate committee, creating concern that the virus may already be present.
· With an abundance of speculation at the present time, a two-week pause may provide some clarity about the risks and the scope of the outbreak.
· All of this is helped by the fact that the Senate has had a surprisingly productive first half, passing many of their top priorities.
· The House Budget Committee is expected to work on Friday, and all next week to finish the budget before Spring Break.
· I’ve noticed some legislators are embracing a more fatalist belief that eventually the virus will find the capitol. If it be now, 'tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all
Budget Work
Chairman Cody Smith released the House Committee Substitute of the budget. Find it here.
This version is based on 1.6% revenue growth next year. The governor’s budget was based on 1.9%. That’s a difference of about $30 million. Additionally, the governor’s budget had $43 million from an “enhanced match” of federal funds. Smith doesn’t automatically assume that will occur.
Smith’s budget framework has a “Surplus Revenue Fund.” If revenues are collected above the 1.6% estimate, they will be deposited into the SRF and spent accordingly. Likewise if the federal funds match occurs, it will be transfer to the SRF and expended as directed.
And
The recession fears are real.
It’s impossible to watch the waves of cancellations – even my beloved Pearl Jam has postponed their tour – and not believe that economic activity is going to suffer.
This will impact state revenue in the coming months.
Senate Works on Wayfair
The Senate worked on, but was unable to perfect, Sen. Andrew Koenig’s internet sales tax bill. At times it felt like a House bill as senators loaded up their particular tax breaks.
The debate isn’t whether Missouri should levy a tax on cyber retail to level the playing field, but rather how to use the additional revenue.
One lobbyist remarked: If there is one thing the state needs to pass, it’s Wayfair to help support the financial stability of the state if people are stuck at home and buying everything online.
McKenna Contra Hyperloop?
One good source tells me that Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation Patrick McKenna has been resisting efforts by Speaker Elijah Haahr to give the Hyperloop project guarantees of right of way along I-70. And that this tiff is spilling over into over legislative areas. But others – close to the speaker’s office, while acknowledging that there’s an outstanding ask of the director – say that any reports of escalation are overblown. They expect that McKenna will eventually come around to the speaker’s position.
Meet FastDemocracy
Former Schupp staffer Jill Kline and ACLU’s Sara Baker have a legislation tracking start-up. See a profile here.
In the past, the two have tracked legislation using paper files or spreadsheets. They figured there had to be an easier way, so they created one. Kline, Baker and Anatolij Gelimson in 2018 founded FastDemocracy, which has developed a bill-tracking platform designed to help nonprofits, advocacy groups and individuals more quickly and easily stay informed about state and federal legislation… The technology/product: FastDemocracy is a subscription-based bill tracking platform designed to help nonprofits, advocacy organizations, businesses and individuals be informed and effective advocates for policy change. The startup’s proprietary technology aims to replace political punditry with machine learning and data science; offer distinctive collaborative, communication and workflow tools; and provide a user-friendly platform with comprehensive bill tracking capabilities...
Help Wanted
March of Dimes seeks Director of Maternal & Infant Health Initiatives. The Director of Maternal & Infant Health Initiatives reports to the Executive Director of Market Impact and develops and executes the national Mission Impact strategy at the local level. The position partners with market staff to translate and share the Mission Impact work in ways that invite donor investment and supporter engagement, leading with mission and empowering local teams to align impact strategies to community needs in the designated area. See the ad here.
New Candidate Filings
Cindy Berne filed to run in House 106 as a Democrat. This is one of the targeted “Claire Districts.” The current representative, Chrissy Sommer, is term limited. The Republican candidate is Adam Schwadron.
Darlene Graham filed to run in House 139 as a Democrat. She’ll face Republican Rep. Jered Taylor.
New Committees
John Webb formed a candidate committee (Webb for Missouri) to run for House 56 as a Republican.
Jeremiah Church formed a candidate committee (Committee to Elect Jeremiah Church) to run for Senate 5 as a Democrat.
SEMO Country Conservatives was formed. It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is Rhonda J Carter.
Lobbyist Registrations
Gamble & Schlemeier added St. Louis Regional Chamber.
Leroy Grant added SSM Health Care.
Brent Hemphill added Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital.
Steven Tilley deleted Steven Tilley, The McIntosh Company, and Express Scripts
Thomas Robbins deleted The McIntosh Company, and Kingdom Principles, Inc.
Mike Gibbons and Tricia Workman deleted Municipal League of Metro St. Louis.
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for a New Approach - $15,000 from Vertical Enterprises, LLC.
UFCW Local 655 Elect Club - $5,665 from UFCW Local 655.
Citizens for Francis Howell - $10,000 from Ameresco.
Carpenters Help In the Political Process (CHIPP) - $20,000 from Kansas City Live, LLC.
Physician Led Anesthesia Care PAC - $25,000 from Western Anesthesiology Associates, Inc.
Page PAC - $25,000 from Chapman Ventures LLC.
Missouri Democratic State Committee - $11,500 from Arizona Democratic Party - MO Non-Fed.